Jever, Germany
14th century
Lahnstein, Germany
1226
Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany
11th century
Hirschhorn, Germany
1250-1260
Pfronten, Germany
1418-1432
Flensburg, Germany
1595
Riedenburg, Germany
12th century
Durbach, Germany
11th century
Hellenthal, Germany
12th century
Ratingen, Germany
1276
Mitwitz, Germany
13th century
Egloffstein, Germany
14th century
Neuleiningen, Germany
1238-1241
Ebern, Germany
c. 1180
Ochtrup, Germany
16th century
Altwindeck, Germany
12th century
Cadolzburg, Germany
13th century
Grünwald, Germany
12th century
Paderborn, Germany
1257
Hohnstein, Germany
c. 1200
Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.
The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.
These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.